THE SECOND EPISTLE
OF
PAUL THE APOSTLE
TO THE
CORINTHIANS

2 Corinthians 3 ©

1 The apostle gives a reason why he had so highly advanced the ministry of the Gospel at the end of the previous chapter, and appeals first to the experience of the Corinthians themselves, who by this his ministry were converted to Christ. 5 Adds that this power was not of him but of God. 6 Proves the same further by a comparison of the ministry of Moses, which he calls a killing letter imprinted in tables of stones, and a ministration of condemnation, which abides not; and of the ministry of the apostles, which he calls a ministry of the Spirit of life, and of righteousness, and always abides. 13 Declares that there lay a veil on Moses’ face, and also in the reading of the law, so that the Jews understood not the end thereof. 16 Which veil shall be removed from them when they shall be converted to God. 17 But that the ministry of the New Testament is clear, and a means whereby the Spirit of the Lord is powerful for our restoration.

1

DO 1we begina again 2to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, 3epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?

2

4Ye are our epistle 5written in our hearts, known and read 6of all men:

3

Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ 7ministered by us, written not 8with ink, but with the Spirit of 9the living God; not 10inb tablesc of stone, butd11in fleshy tables of the heart.

4

And 12such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:

5

Not that we are sufficient 13of ourselves 14to think any thing as of ourselves; but oure sufficiency is of God;

6

Who also hath made us able ministersf ofg the new 15testament; not 16of the letter, but 17of the spirit: for the letter 18killeth, but the spirit 19giveth life.

7

But if the ministration of death, written andh engraven in stones, was glorious, soi that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses 20for the glory of his countenance; which glory was 21to be done away:

8

How shall not the ministration 22of the spirit be rather glorious?

9

For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration 23of righteousness exceed in glory.

10

For even that which was made 24glorious had no glory in this respect, 25by reason of the glory that excelleth.

11

For if that which is done away was glorious, much more 26that which remaineth is glorious.

12

Seeing then that we have such hope, we use 27great plainness of speech:

13

And not as Moses,j which put a vail over his face, 28that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look 29tok the end of that which is abolished:

14

Butl their minds were 30blinded: for until this day remaineth 31the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; 32which vail is done away in Christ.

15

But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

16

Neverthelessm when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

17

Now 33then Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, 34there is liberty.

18

Buto35we all, 36with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even 37as by the Spirit of the Lord.